Violent ex-con charged in stabbing death in NYC drug den

Police nabbed an ex-con with a violent history for the stabbing death of a Staten Island man over a drug dispute in a flophouse.

Frank Rivera, 58, of Mariner’s Harbor, was charged with the murder of Jonathan Winokur, 38, of Port Richmond on Sunday just before 11 p.m. inside a known drug spot on Union Ave. near Richmond Terrace, police said.

Rivera, a drug dealer whose rap sheet includes murder, rape, assaults and drug charges, attacked Winokur over a drug dispute, police and the victim’s girlfriend told the Daily News.

“They had an altercation a while ago,” said Winokur’s girlfriend Elizabeth Ferone, 35. “He buys stuff from the guy. I was there one time, and Jon came in, and they started fighting. And then Frankie chased him out with a knife. Cops were called.”

She said that Rivera had warned Winokur about returning to the drug den.

“That’s where he disappears to,” she said. “Frankie told him ‘never come back again’ … The first altercation, [Rivera] had a very big knife, and he chased [Jonathan] around the house. I was afraid to say anything because I thought he was going to kill me.”

She said that her boyfriend, Winokur, who had a pending sexual assault case in Staten Island, was not a violent guy.

“Jonathan has no weapons. Jonathan is vocal, he’s not a physical fighter,” she said.

Rivera was charged with murder, assault and criminal weapons possession. His arraignment was pending Wednesday night.